We had a quick breakfast this morning and then made preparations for our departure. We had enjoyed our time in Fort Myers, but were anxious to be on our way again. By 10:00 a.m. we were heading back out the Caloosahatchee River the same way we had come in. We made our way to Ballard Oil in Fort Myers Beach. This is, by far, one of the cheapest places to get diesel fuel in Florida. Today it was 2.539/gal plus tax -- at least 66 cents cheaper than anywhere else in the area. We took on 168 gallons so that equated to a substantial savings. We had not fueled up since Panama City.
We headed out into the Gulf of Mexico for our run up to Naples. Couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was warm and windless, with flat seas. Gerry tried fishing on the way, but with the usual luck (NONE). We approached Gordon Pass Inlet around 5:45 and picked our way in. We had plans to anchor in one of the coves off the pass. We slowly made our way because it was very shallow. So shallow, in fact, that we ran aground not once, not twice, but three times. Second Star had gotten through without incident as they draw less than we do. We were about to give up when a local came to our rescue and guided us in. Once we got into the cove we had over 9 feet of water and were surrounded by beautiful homes. This is definitely a “high-rent-area”. We finally got settled in around 6:30, just as the sun set.
Gerry grilled steak for dinner, we watched a movie and then off to bed.
We headed out into the Gulf of Mexico for our run up to Naples. Couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was warm and windless, with flat seas. Gerry tried fishing on the way, but with the usual luck (NONE). We approached Gordon Pass Inlet around 5:45 and picked our way in. We had plans to anchor in one of the coves off the pass. We slowly made our way because it was very shallow. So shallow, in fact, that we ran aground not once, not twice, but three times. Second Star had gotten through without incident as they draw less than we do. We were about to give up when a local came to our rescue and guided us in. Once we got into the cove we had over 9 feet of water and were surrounded by beautiful homes. This is definitely a “high-rent-area”. We finally got settled in around 6:30, just as the sun set.
Gerry grilled steak for dinner, we watched a movie and then off to bed.
A shot of Joe's Crab Shack as we were leaving the marina. We ate here a couple of times during our stay in Fort Myers
.... and a shot of the marina itself. It was a very nice marina -- floating docks !!
We had dolphins with us for a lot of the trip today. This pair played at our bow for almost an hour.
Cruising down the intercoastal. It was Friday afternoon and a lot of boats were heading out.
This was a large condo development. Much of the shore is lined with buildings like this.
Birds sitting on the bulkhead as we passed under the bridge
Entering Fort Myers Beach
The shrimp fleet. The dockmaster at Ballard Oil told us there used to be 60 or more boats that regularly went out. Now there are only about a dozen.
Getting diesel at Ballard Oil. Here's Second Star as they are pulling away from the fuel dock.
The Key West Express. You can take this boat to Key West .... takes only 3 hours to get there. We'll go a little slower on our own.
Snapped a picture of a shrimp boat named the Hailey Marie. Our granddaughter's name is Kailey Marie and we named our first trawler, a Mainship 34, after her. Thought the name was close enough for a picture.
A picture of Second Star which almost appears to be pulling the parasail on the left.
A picture of the shoreline as seen from the Gulf of Mexico
A picture of the flat seas and Gerry fiddling with his fishing gear (later found out he was getting out one of the biggest knots ever in his fishing line).
A picture of the sailboats in the setting sun (and a bird flying by) as we entered the Gordon Pass Inlet
We met a huge dinner cruise boat as we were entering the channel
A shot of the beach and seabirds as we entered the inlet
You can just barely make out a couple in chairs sitting on the rocks. What a great place to watch the sunset.
We anchored in a "high-dollar" area. Here is a huge pink house. The color doesn't really show up as it was approaching dusk and was overcast.
We anchored across from this house. Yes -- a single family home currently under construction.
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